A Fundraiser for a Canadian Children's Library in Ethiopia

First of all, THANK YOU so much for caring enough to take a moment to check out this blog and this fundraiser. So, WHY a library and WHY Ethiopia? Well let me tell you…I guess I have to go back a bit

WHY? First and foremost, this is a personal labour of love.

As many of you know (or don’t know), I am adopting a child, a little girl about 3 or 4 years old, from Ethiopia. I came to this decision almost two years ago in April 2009 after going through some difficult times in my personal life. As usual, when a door closes, a window opens, and I realized that what I really wanted was to create a family of my own. Given who I am and my life experiences, international adoption seemed the most natural option. Quite frankly, I can’t imagine my life going in any other direction at this point. Sharing my life with this little girl is what I know I should be doing. Many of you know that I am a traveller at heart…well, the next time I take to the road, the common refrain will be “Hey honey, look at that!!” So obviously, I am passionate about this library project as a way to connect to my child as well as the culture, the people and the children of Ethiopia. I am also hoping that it is a way for my family, friends, colleagues and community to connect as well. One day, I will be able to physically show her a place, a library, in her homeland that you built in her honour. In fact, it would be wonderful to build something in honour of all of the Ethiopian Children who have been adopted here in Canada!

Why Ethiopia? You may find it an unusual choice.

Well, a few years ago, I went on a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Ethiopia and Uganda, and I owe many thanks to the Rotary Club of St. Catharines and District 7090 for this opportunityl; it has changed my life. One day, I hope to be able to participate more actively with the Rotary. http://www.rotaryniagara.org/thoughts/our.shtm

At that time, I was able to visit schools, talk to teachers and students, travel around the country and see the real need. It is a beautiful country with a unique culture, vast landscapes, kind people, a magnificent history and a world of potential. But only 35% of the population can read and some classrooms have up to 100 children in them. It is still a country affected by war, disease and famine, among other things. I felt an immediate connection to the people all around me… to the teachers, the parents, the children. Although I didn’t for a moment imagine that I would be adopting, I knew I wanted to do something there, and lots of little projects have been percolating over the last few years.

Why a Library? (You ask this of the girl who spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book???)

After the month-long Rotary trip was over, I stayed on for an additional month in Addis Ababa, volunteering at the Shola Children’s Library, the first library established by “Ethiopia Reads”, an American/Ethiopian organization that has pledged to build a culture of reading in Ethiopia.

I ask myself, “How can a country progress when people can’t read?” Can you imagine a childhood without books? No fairy tales! No information! As an avid reader, a language teacher and a life-long learner, I think about this a lot! Research has shown that the level of literacy and education has a direct link and immediate impact on the level of health and wealth in a community. Reading is important! A book can change a life!

Thankfully, Ethiopia Reads doesn’t just think about it. They have taken action. They have planted numerous libraries, helped schools to create libraries, launched rural donkey book-mobiles, published books in English and local languages, engaged in literacy training for teachers and librarians and generally encouraged a culture of reading for the next generation of Ethiopians. It is amazing what they have done since they began in 2003. In fact, Johannes Gebregeorgis, the founder, was nominated for the CNN Hero award in 2009.

In my own small way, I was able to help them make a connection with the Rotary and through that connection, they have built even more libraries throughout the country. Over the years, I have kept in touch with Jane Kurtz, children’s author and another founder of the organization, and have continued to feel inspired by the work that they do. I feel fortunate to have found a way to bring my love for family and my love for reading and education together in a way that is so meaningful. I have finally found a passion and hope to sustain my relationship with them in the future, perhaps through teacher training.

In conclusion,

It’s not that I believe that adoptive families have some special obligation to advocate for the home country of their child, and what I know about East African geo-politics and development could be put into a thimble. But, I care and I am learning. I also think that as families connect with their child that the connection to the country is quite natural, and they WILL help to raise awareness and become more involved. It is a wonderful part of adoption. The definition of family and community becomes so much broader.
So, life is going to change! (That’s what all the Moms out there have been telling me!) But, international adoption is not for the faint of heart; it is a long and difficult road, dependent on the government bureaucracy and politics of two nations. It involves love and loss and a world of patience. In fact, this adoption may still take another year or more, making it 3 years from beginning to end–longer than the gestation period of an elephant for heaven’s sake!! But, time will fly! So before I get happily caught up in the in the day to day world of hair braids,play-dates, swinging in the park and bath-time… I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS and I hope you will join me!